Dr Isobel Yeo

My research interests are focussed on submarine volcanic and magmatic processes, marine geohazards and blue resources and energy. I use a variety of techniques (including marine geophysical surveying, X-ray computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy and geochemistry) and work with cutting edge technologies (marine remotely controlled and autonomous platforms) to investigate the mantle to surface processes that build our planet. I currently lead several projects looking at submarine volcanic processes and have senior roles on others covering monitoring of seafloor mining activities, marine pollutants, marine geohazards and mid-ocean ridge volcanism. 

Publications

Clare, M.A., Yeo, I.A., Bricheno, L., Aksenov, Y., Brown, J., Haigh, I.D., Wahl, T., Hunt, J., Sams, C., Chaytor, J. (2023) Climate change hotspots and implications for the global subsea telecommunications network. Earth-Science Reviews, 104296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2022.104296

Yeo, I.A., McIntosh, I.M., Bryan, S.E., Tani, K., Dunbabin, M., Metz, D., Collins, P.C., Stone, K. and Manu, M.S., (2022) The 2019–2020 volcanic eruption of Late’iki (Metis Shoal), Tonga. Scientific reports, 12(1), pp.1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11133-8

Kopp, H., Latino Chiocci, F., Berndt, C., Namık Çağatay, M., Ferreira, T., Juana Fortes, C., Gràcia, E., González Vega, A., Kopf, A., Sørensen, M.B., Sultan, N. and Yeo, I. A. (2021) Marine geohazards: Safeguarding society and the Blue Economy from a hidden threat. ed. by Muñiz Piniella, Ángel E., Kellett, P., van den Brand, R., Alexander, B., Rodríguez Perez, A., Van Elslander, J. and Heymans, J. J.. European Marine Board Position paper, 26 . European Marine Board IVZW, Ostend, Belgium, 100 pp. ISBN 9789464206111, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5591938

Falkenberg, J.J., Keith, M., Haase, K.M., Bach, W., Klemd, R., Strauss, H., Yeo, I.A., H.Rubin, K., Storch, B., Anderson, M.O., (2021) Effects of fluid boiling on Au and volatile element enrichment in submarine arc-related hydrothermal systems. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2021.05.047

Devey, C.W., Greinert, J., Boetius, A., Augustin, N. and Yeo, I., (2021) How volcanically active is an abyssal plain? Evidence for recent volcanism on 20 Ma Nazca Plate seafloor. Marine Geology, 440, p.106548. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2021.106548

Galley, C.G., Lelievre, P., Haroon, A., Graber, S., Jamieson, J.W., Szitkar, F., Yeo, I., Farquharson, C., Petersen, S. and Evans, R.L., (2021) Magnetic and Gravity Surface Geometry Inverse Modelling of the TAG Active Mound. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JB022228

Lennon, E., Philips, N.D., Garbett, A., Carlsson, J., Carlsson, J.E., Crowley, D., Judge, M., Yeo, I. and Collins, P.C., (2021). Going deeper, darker and further: Observations charting an egg nursery, a range and depth extension for the deep-sea spiny tailed skate Bathyraja spinicauda, first records from the Mid Atlantic Ridge. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 175, p.103584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2021.103584

Graber, S., Petersen, S., Yeo, I., Szitkar, F., Klischies, M., & Jamieson, J., et al. (2020) Structural control, evolution, and accumulation rates of massive sulfides in the TAG hydrothermal field, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 21, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009185

German, C. R., Resing, J. A., Xu, G., Yeo, I. A., Walker, S. L., Devey, C. W., Moffett, J. W., Cutter, G. A., Hyvernaud, O. and Reymond, D. (2020) Hydrothermal Activity and Seismicity at Teahitia Seamount: Reactivation of the Society Islands Hotspot? Fronteirs in Marine Science, v. 7, pp. 73, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00073

Yeo, I. A., Howarth, S. A., Spearman, J., Cooper, A., Crossouard, N., Taylor, J., Turnbull, M., and Murton, B. J. (2019) Distribution of and Hydrographic Controls on Ferromanganese Crusts: Tropic Seamount, Atlantic, Ore Geology Reviews, v. 114, p. 103131, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2019.103131

Szitkar, F., Petersen, S., Bialas, J., Graber, S., Klischies, M., Murton, B. J. and Yeo, I. A, (2019) Detachment tectonics at Mid-Atlantic Ridge 26°N, Nature Scientific Reports, v. 9, 11830, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47974-z

Schmid, F., Peters, M., Walter, M., Devey, C., Petersen, S., Yeo, I. A., Köhler, J., Walker, S., Sültenfuss, J., Jamieson, J., (2019) Locations and physico-chemical properties of several new discovered hydrothermal plumes above the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (13°-33°S), Deep Sea Research PI: Oceanographic Research Papers, v. 148, p. 34–52, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2019.04.010

Murton, B. J., Bialas, J., Martins, S., Petersen, S., Vardy, M., Lehrmann, B., Yeo, I. A., North, L., Dannowski, A., Stobbs, I., Lusty, P., Dutrieux, A., Gil e la Iglesia, A. and Barriga, F. (2019) Geological fate of seafloor massive sulphides at the TAG segment (Mid-Atlantic Ridge), Ore Geology Reviews, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2019.03.005

Ramiro-Sánchez, B., González-Irusta, J.M., Henry, L.A., Cleland, J., Yeo, I., Xavier, J.R., Carreiro-Silva, M., Sampaio, Í., Spearman, J., Victorero, L. and Messing, C.G., (2019). Characterization and mapping of a deep-sea sponge ground on the Tropic Seamount (Northeast Tropical Atlantic): Implications for spatial management in the high seas. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, p.278. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00278

Yeo, I. A., Dobson, K. J., Josso, P., Pearce, R., Howarth, S. A., Lusty, P. A., Le Bas, T. P., Murton, B. J., (2018) Assessment of the mineral resource potential of Atlantic ferromanganese crusts based on their growth history, micro-structure and texture, Miner., 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/min8080327

Klischies, M., Rothenbeck, M., Steinführer, A., Yeo, I.A., dos Santos Ferreira, C., Mohrmann, J., Faber, C. and Schirnick, C. (2018) AUV Abyss workflow: autonomous deep sea exploration for ocean research. In 2018 IEEE/OES Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Workshop (AUV) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.

Pałgan, D., Devey, C.W., Yeo, I. A. (2017) Volcanism and hydrothermalism on a hotspot–influenced ridge: Comparing Reykjanes Peninsula and Reykjanes Ridge, Iceland, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v.348, p. 62-8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2017.10.017

Yeo, I. A., Devey, C. W., Augustin, N., LeBas, T. P. (2016) Segment-scale volcanic periodicity: Evidence from the North Kolbeinsey Ridge, Atlantic, EPSL, v. 439, p. 81-87, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2016.01.029

Pałgan, D., Devey, C.W., Yeo, I. A. (2016) Dike control of hydrothermal circulation in the Tertiary Icelandic crust and implications for cooling of the seafloor, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 316, p. 22-33, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2016.02.021

Elkins, L.J., Hamelin, C., Blichert-Toft, J., Scott, S.R., Sims, K.W.W., Yeo, I.A., Devey, C.W., Pedersen, R.B. (2016) North Atlantic hotspot-ridge interaction near Jan Mayen Island. Geochem. Persp. Let., v. 2, p. 55-67, https://doi.org/10.7185/geochemlet.1606

Turner, S., Kokfelt, T., Hauff. F., Haase. K., Lundstrom. C., Hoernle, K., Yeo. I. A., Devey, C.W. (2015) Mid-ocean ridge basalt generation along the slow-spreading, South Mid-Atlantic Ridge (5-11°S): Inferences from 238U-230Th-226Ra disequilibria; Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 169, p. 152-166; https://doi.org/0.1016/j.gca.2015.07.036

Yeo, I. A., Clague, D. A., Martin, J. F., Paduan, J. B., Caress, D. W. (2013) Pre-eruptive flow-focussing in dikes feeding historical pillow ridges; Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems; v. 14, i. 9, p. 3586-3599; https://doi.org/10.1002/ggge.20210

Yeo, I. A., Searle, R.C. (2013) High-resolution Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) mapping of a slow-spreading ridge: Mid-Atlantic Ridge 45°N; Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems; v. 14, i. 6, p. 1693-1702; https://doi.org/10.1002/ggge.20082

Yeo, I. A., Searle, R. C., Achenbach, K. L., LeBas, T. P., Murton, B. J. (2012) Eruptive Hummocks: Building blocks of the upper ocean crust; Geology; v. 40, n. 1, p. 91-94; https://doi.org/10.1130/G31892.1

Committee Memberships

IAVCEI Commission on Submarine Volcanism (2021 - Present)

NERC Peer Review College (2020 - Present)

InterRidge Working Group Member: Seafloor Massive Sulphide Resources (2018 - Present)

European Marine Safety Board Working Group on Geohazards (2019-2021)

DEFRA/Cefas advisory group on Deep Sea Mining (2019)

Projects

Hydrothermal Controls on Caldera Explosivity, (NE/X003272/1) NERC Pushing the Frontiers (£990,000) 2023 (PI)

Explosive post-caldera collapse eruptions in the Kermadec-Tonga Arc, (NE/X003272/1) NERC Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund (£100,000) 2022 (Co-I)

Offshore hazard cascades from the largest volcanic eruption this century, (NE/X00239X/1) NERC Urgency Grant (£100,000) 2022 (Co-I)

Technology based impact assessment tool foR sustaInable, transparent Deep sEa miNing exploraTion and exploitation (TRIDENT), (101091959) EU Horizon Funding (£13,000,000) 2022 https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101091959/fr

Future states Of the global Coastal ocean: Understanding for Solutions (FOCUS), NERC National Capability (£4,000,000) 2022 https://noc.ac.uk/projects/focus (Co-I)

Climate change hotspots and the global telecommunications network: Assessing past and present resilience, and adaptation strategies for the future, NERC COP26 Adaptation and Resilience funding (£170,000) 2021 https://noc.ac.uk/projects/climate-change-global-telecoms (Co-I)

Ultramafic-hosted mineral Resource Assessment (ULTRA), (NE/S004068/1) NERC Directed (£750,000) 2020 https://project-ultra.org/

The August 2019 Tongan 18.325°S 174.365°W submarine volcanic eruption: eruptive processes and pumice raft formation and evolution, (NE/T010916/1) NERC Urgency Grant (£65,000) 2019 (PI)

Roles Provided

Research Geoscientist